Voting-machine.



PATENTED SEPT. 20, 190%.

N. B. ROSS.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

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No. 770,318. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

- N. B. ROSS.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903. I

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ma m M N N. B. ROSS. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903. N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT EEIcE.

THEODORE HORSTMAN, OF O1NOINNA"1, OHIO.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,318, da ed September 20, 1904.. Application filed November 2, 190 3. Serial No. 179,482. (NomodeL) To all whom, it ntrty concern.-

Beit known thatl, NAPOLEON B. Ross, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Gilboa, county of Putnam, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-lVIachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for the nomination of candidates for public offices at primary elections held under State supervision and is equally applicable to the election of officers at general elections.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical device by which the election may proceed rapidly, while the voter has ample time to intelligently select the candidates for whom he desires to vote and cast his vote in absolute secrecy.

WVith these objects in view my invention consists in the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in detail in the specification hereto annexed, and particularly referred to-and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference-letters wherever they occur throughout the various views, Figure 1 is a view of the device embodying my invention, the view being in per spective and taken from the rear of the device. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view (the cover being thrown open) of the machine, showing the different parts in normal condition ready for operation. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the device, taken through 0 r0 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device with the ballotcarrying magazine for carrying the ballotholders arranged in position upon the top of the cover. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the box with the closure thrown down to expose the removable departments or cases in which the ballot-holders carrying the ballots of the different parties are shown. Fig. 6 is a perspective elevation, and Fig. 7 is a perspective sectional view, of the ballot-holders. Fig. 8 is atop or plan view of the cover closed down. Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to the plan view of Fig. 2, but with the operative parts in the position they would occupy when a ballot is to be deposited. Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are detail views, upon a somewhat enlarged scale, of the booth or canopy supporting frame.

Referring to the parts by referenccletters, A represents the outer casing, which incloses the operative parts of the voting device, which is provided on its opposite sides with keepers a, which support the standards a, which standards support the booth or canopy to inclose the voter while depositing his ballot. These standards a have secured to them straps (4 which enter the keepers when the canopy is set up in place and render the device portable, so that when the election is over the parts may be detached and stored away conveniently. The sides are also provided with handles a in order to conveniently handle the voting-machine when it is to be placed in position or removed for storage.

The casing A is provided with a hinged door a and a flanged cover a, which has hasps coming down from it to engage staples on the door a and lock (0" to hold the box closed. The cover cf is slotted and has a slotted opening also covered by a lock and key, which holds the hasp a open to receive the lower end of the releasing-lever B. This lever B is held in its normal position by a spring 7), and to this lever is attached a cord I), which cord is carried over a pulley I) to any convenient position to be reached by the person in charge of the machine. The parts above described have reference more particularly to Fig. 1. "he operative mechanism of the inside of the box and the details by which the object of the invention is attained will now be particularly described.

In Fig. 2 the operative parts are shown in the position they occupy after the oflieer of the election has tripped or released the looking device and may be termed their inoperative position, as no other manipulation by the ofiicer of the election or by the voter could accomplish anything until another voter again sets the parts to deposit his ballot. O is a slide guided by the sides of the box and resting upon an apertured cover I), which covers the ballot-receiving chambers and furnishes bearings for the parts which operate the slide G. The slide G is transversely slotted to near its opposite ends to receive the sliding blocks 0, and the opposite edges of the slot are grooved to receive tenons or feathers which project from each side of the sliding blocks 0, retained in place by permitting them to slide from one end of the slot to the other. These sliding blocks 0 are of such length that when pushed to either one side of the slot or the other they leave an open space between the adjacent ends of two of them sufficient to receive the ballotholder, which may be dropped in it and rests upon and over the slotted cover leading to the ballot-receivers. When the voter enters the booth, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. The end blocks 0 have a headed pin 0 projecting up from them, the neck of which engages the triangular overlapping member 0 This member has parallel with the slot an upwardly projecting flared flange 0 The slide has extending from it a cord 0*, which.

projects through the hole of the box. The voter enters the booth, pulls upon this cord, and in doing so the slide is pulled out, the pin 0 traveling up the inclined edges of the angles 0 and in so doing closes the edges of the blocks, leaving but a space between the adjacent ends of any of the blocks 0 sufficient to receive a ballot-holder. After the slide has been drawn out to its full extent, as shown in Fig. 9, the voter can then slip the blocks to one side or the other, uncovering an opening over the slotted base or foundation D, in which the ballot-holder may be deposited. When the parts are released by the lever B, the coiled springs d, which are connected to the cover or foundation D and to the slide O, return the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2, the screw 0 passing under the angles 0 and in front of the inclines ready for the next operation, while the slotted rack-bar c, which is connected to the slide C, is thrown back to its position, and the spring (2 is connected to the cover D and to the lower end of the cloggingpawl 0 and throws the detent of the pawl into the upper notch of the bar 0 At the same time the spring-arm (Z or knocker which had been pulled up to the position shown in Fig. 9 by a pin 0 projecting upwardly from the bar 0 is released, and an alarm is sounded by the knocker striking the bell or gong (Z On the top of the box opposite the slots in the foundation which leads to the ballot-receiving boxes are'indicated, as shown at E, the names of the different parties participating in the nomination or election, and the openings between the adjacent ends of the sliding blocks and the bottom of the openings on cover D between the adjacent ends of the slides upon which the ballot-holders are received may be similarly indicated. Projecting from the under side of the slide C is a pin 0 projecting downwardly, which passes through a slot in the cover D, which limits the movement of the slide C in either direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 4, the magazine F for containing the ballot-holders is fixed upon the flanged cover a It has within it a sliding member f, and resting above this slidingmember is an inclined floor, upon which the ballotholders G are supported. The sliding member f is actuated by a bell-crank lever f, which is fulcrumed in the bases of the magazine, with its vertical arm extending up into the slide f. The horizontal arm of this lever is connected to the slide C, so that when the slide is pulled outit actuates the slide f, which contains one of the holders G, and drops it on top of the cover (1?. One only can be carried out at a time, as the movement of the slide f is limited by the movement of the slide 0. When the ballot-holder containing the ballot is deposited in its proper position and the mechanism which actuates the slide C is again tripped, the slide f is thrown back, preventing the discharge of another tube until the voter again pulls out the slide to the position'shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is shown broken away part of the lever B, by which the mechanism is tripped and thrown to the position shown in Fig. 2, which of course carries the slide f back ready to be again operated when the voter draws the slide to the position shown in Fig. 9.

The ballot-holders Gr (shown upon an enlarged scale in Figs. 6 and 7) consist of a plain tube, within which is fitted a rectangular spring-loop g, which is adapted to slide within the tube held in it by frictional contact or by other suitable means. The ballot g is folded, placed within this loop, and the loop, with its contained ballot, pushed into the tubular holder, when it is pressed into it preparatory to being deposited by the voter. \Vhen the ballot is to be counted, the loop is pushed out by the judges, bringing the ballot with it. The principal purpose of employing the loop is to protect the ballot from injury in inserting or withdrawing it from the tube and insuring its being retained until withdrawn to be counted by the judges, and thus prevent any fraud by putting more than one ballot in the tube.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have simply shown de tailed views,upon an enlarged scale,of the preferred plan of canopy-frame which I have designed and which can be readily held in place and detached for convenient storage. From the uprights a project pins a which pass through the matched ends of the top framepieces a and a These are first placed in position, and then spring-keepers a which are secured to the uprights a, hook over the top of the upper frame and .retain the canopyframe in position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The parts being in the locked position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, the voter enters the booth and by taking hold of the cord or puller a pulls the slide C forward until stopped by its limiting-pin c to the position shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 9, in which position it is automatically locked. The pulling forward of the puller or cord also actuates a slidefin the magazine, which is fixed upon the top of the box and delivers one, and only one, of the ballot-holders on the box-top. The voter takes this ballot, manipulates the slide 0 to one side or the other, (in the illustration shown pushes them back on each side,) leaving a central opening between the adjacent ends of the slides upon each side of the center of suificientlength to receive the ballot-holders. He then withdraws the spring-loop g from the holdingtube G, folds his ballot r/, places it in the spring-holder, and replaces the spring-holder in the tubular case G. This he places in the open space between the adjacent ends of the slides on each side of the center, where it rests upon the cover 1) of the ballotreceivers. XV hen he leaves the booth, the officer in charge pulls the lever B, releases the spring mechanism, when the springs automatically throw the parts again to the position shown in Fig. 2, at the same time pulling the ballot-holder over the top D until it drops through the slotted opening into the ballot-receivers arranged to receive the ballots of the different parties. The same operation releases the spring arm or knocker (Z and allows its hammer to strike the gong or hell (Z thus signaling an alarm and locking the parts, so that they are inoperative until put in the operative position again by the next voter, who pulls the slide out to the position shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 9. It will thus be seen that the box is locked against manipulation by the judges or officers having charge of it by pulling upon the lever B and against manipulation by any one until it is again operated by the next voter who enters the booth. By this means the voter has complete control in the preparation and depositing of his ballot, and the oflicers of election have complete control of the deposit of the ballot and locking the box against fraudulent or wrongful voting by the voter, thus placing a complete check on the judges or ofliccrs and at the same time a complete check on the voter, so that the judges of the election can prevent any illegal manipulation on the part of the voter and the voter can prevent any illegal manipulation on the part of the judges.

I have shown my invention in the simplest and most effective form known to me to accomplish the results attained; but it is obvious that any skilled mechanic after examining my machine or the specification and drawings describing it may make mere mechanical changes without varying the principle or scope of my invention. I do not, therefore,

desire to be limited to the specific construction of the separate elements shown, but shall consider any mere mechanical changes in them as within my invention.

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a voting-machine the combination of the case, having its top slotted and the interior of said case divided into an upper and lower compartment, the upper one to receive the operative mechanism and the lower to receive the ballots, a slide in the upper compartment, springs secured to the slide at its rear edge and to a fixed part of the case to normally hold the machine in its closed position, a pull connected to the front of said slide and extending through the front of the case, by which the voter may pull the slide forward to open the machine for the reception of the holder containing his ballot, means to lock the machine in the open position against the action of the springs until his ballot-holder is deposited on the cover of the lower compartment, a lever extending through a slot in the rear of the machine in reach of the officers in charge of the election to trip the locking mechanism and permit the springs to automatically return the machine to its closed position and deposit the ballot in the lower compartment, whereby the voter has control until his ballot is deposited and the oflicers control to render the machine inoperative until it is again set by the next voter, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a voting-machine of the character described, the case having its top slotted and divided into two main compartments, the upper compartment to receive and support the operative mechanism of the machine and having a transversely-slotted bottom which forms the cover for the lower compartment, the lower compartment subdivided by partitions into different chambers to receive separate ballotholders, a door closing the rear end of both compartments, the separate removable receptacles for each chamber of the lower compartment to receive the ballot-holders in either receptacle predetermined by the voter when he deposits his ballot, combined and arranged substantially as shown and described.

3. The voting-machine case divided into upper and lower compartments, having slotted cover hinged to the front wall of the case and downwardly-projecting flanges on the ends and rear edges of said cover, the door hinged to the rear of the case and having flanges to overlap the ends of the case and pass under the end flanges of the cover when closed down, locks to hold the cover down and the rear door closed, combined and arranged substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

4:. In a voting-machine as hereinbefore described the combination of the case having an upper and lower compartment, the top of said case being transversely slotted near its forward end to receive the ballot-holders and the bottom of said upper compartment which is also the cover for the lower compartment having a similar slot parallel with and in rear of the slot in the cover to pass the ballot-holders to the lower compartmentduring the rearward movement of the slide and close the holderreceiving slot in the cover, the slide movably fitted in said upper compartment, springs to automatically retract and hold said slide in its rearward position, means extending through the front of the case to draw the slide to the front of the case and means to lock it in its forward position, saidslide being transversely slotted to receive and hold sliding blocks, the

blocks movably fitted in said slot, the combined length of said blocks being such as to leave an opening when the blocks are adjusted by the voter to receive but one of the ballotholders, to completely close the slot when the ballot-holder is placed in position on the cover of the lower compartment, means to release the locking mechanism and allow the springs to carry the slide to its rear or closed position, deposit the ballot in any predetermined chamber in the lower compartment, and close the slot in the cover against the reception of another ballot-holder until operated by the neXt voter.

5. In a voting-machine the case divided to form upper and lower compartments, a slide in the upper compartment actuated by springs to move and hold it in its rearward position and drawn by the voter in its forward position, a magazine for distributing the ballotholders secured on top of the case, a slide in said magazine to receive one of said ballotholders when the slide is closed and to deliver said holder on the top of the case when the slide is drawn out, an angle-rod connected to the slide within the case and having its opposite bent end projecting through the top of the case and connected to the slide in the magazine to deliver a ballot-holder on the top when the slide within the case is drawn to its forward position, and return both slides when the locking mechanism in the case is released.

6. In a voting-machine, the case having an upper compartment to receive and support the voting-slide and a lower compartment to receive ballot-holders, the voting-slide transversely slotted, the sliding blocks to partially close said transverse slot, the headed pins secured in and projecting up from the two end ballot-holders, means to prevent access to the same by a voter, means to deliver said holders one at a time, a ballot-depositing means and means to reset the machine and simultaneously operate said depositing means.

8. A voting-machine of the character described comprising in its construction means to be actuated by the voter to deliver a single ballot-holder, a holder-receiving mechanism adapted to receive but a single ballot-holder, means for coupling the holder-delivery device and the holder-receiving device whereby the actuation of the former puts the latter in position to receive aballot-holder, aballot-holder to fit said holder-receiving device to hold the ballot securely in it, and means to be actuated by the officers of election to move the holderreceiving device to deposit said holder substantially as set forth.

' 9. The combination of a compartment for holding ballot-holders, means to be actuated by the voter to deliver asingle ballot-holder, means for depositing said holder with its inclosed ballot, a ballot-holder to fit said depositing means comprising a hollow shell to receive and hold the ballot substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a compartment for holding ballot-holders, a means to be actuated by the voter to deliver a single ballot-holder, means for automatically signaling when the holder is delivered, means for depositing said holders and a ballot-holder consisting of a hollow shell to receive and hold the ballot until the same is removed from the machine for counting substantially as shown and described.

NAPOLEON B. ROSS. Witnesses:

GEO. J. MURRAY, \V. F. MURRAY. 

